The village of Okopy in the municipality of Suchowola in Podlasie is both a historical and a symbolic space. It was here that Jerzy Popiełuszko was born on 14 September 1947. The choice of locating the Museum of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko in the place of his childhood will immerse visitors in the authentic family and cultural context of this figure. The contract for the construction of the building has just been signed. Mirosław Nizio and the Nizio Design International studio are responsible for the architectural concept, the design of the building, the permanent exhibition and the interiors.
The contract signed on 24 July 2025 with Budimex SA, with a gross value of PLN 44.27 million, marked the start of construction work. As the general contractor, Budimex is responsible for demolition works, earthworks, erection of the building, sanitary, electrical and heating installations and interior finishes. The scope of the investment also includes landscaping, including the construction of internal roads and pavements. Completion is scheduled for 21 months, with the facility to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027. The project is financed under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021-2027 programme, with the participation of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Architectural concept and permanent exhibition
The design of the building, permanent exhibition and interiors was created by Mirosław Nizio with the studio Nizio Design International. The concept defines the museum as a ‘House of Remembrance’ – an ascetic, modern building deeply embedded in the local landscape. The facades made of blocks of local aggregate allude to the roadside shrines of Podlasie, while cut-outs in the wall and water flowing down the facade create a symbolic ‘waterfall of memory’. At the heart of the edifice is the Chapel-Crypt which serves as a place of recollection and reflection, surrounded by a harmoniously arranged permanent exhibition.
The presentation of the permanent exhibition shows the life and activities of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko from his childhood in Okopy, through his years as a Solidarity pastor, to his tragic death and beatification. Visitors learn about the successive stages of his mission: the defence of human dignity, the idea of “overcome evil with good”, and the socio-historical context of Poland in the 1980s. The interiors are designed for the comfort of the viewer – natural light streams in through narrow gaps, multimedia stations present recordings of the Mass and testimonies of witnesses, and a reconstruction of the priest’s Warsaw flat takes visitors into the intimate world of Father Popiełuszko’s everyday life.
A modern educational and cultural facility
The branch in Okopy will be incorporated into the structures of the Podlaskie Museum in Białystok, run jointly by the Podlaskie Voivodeship Local Government and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The new unit is intended to demonstrate openness to a diversity of audiences: from pilgrims and history enthusiasts to local communities, academics and tourists. Audiovisual equipment and a well-thought-out exhibition narrative will make the museum an interactive centre for cultural education, fostering dialogue and inclusion of people with special needs.
Importance and message of the museum
The Museum of Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko in Okopy will become not only a place of commemoration of one of the most important heroes of Poland’s recent history, but above all a space for reflection on universal values: human dignity, civil courage and the power of goodness. Opening its doors in Q1 2027, it will carry the memory of the priest-martyr into the future, inspiring successive generations to build a society based on solidarity and mutual respect.
source: Budimex
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